BULLS @ WIZARDS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Chicago Bulls are 7-0 to the over in their last seven games and the total for this matchup with the Washington Wizards look a bit light to me. 

The Wizards have one of the absolute worst defenses in the league, but they're top 5 for points scored with 115.5 ppg. Last time out they took a 106-99 loss to Memphis but they're still 7-2 to the over in their last nine games. Chicago has allowed an average of 124.6 ppg through a five-game skid so I'm not concerned about the Wizards bouncing back putting points on the board, and even though the Bulls are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league I think they'll get plenty of open looks in this one. 

The Wizards are 17-9 to the over when the total is greater than or equal to 230 this season. 

10* play on OVER. 

PENN STATE @ PURDUE TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The Purdue Boilermakers own a top 10 scoring defense in the nation and they're also one of the slowest at just 67.8 possessions per game. They've allowed 68 or fewer points in three straight games and they're allowing just 57 points per game home at Mackey Arena on the season. Five of their last six overall have gone over the total, but I think the bookmakers have overadjusted the number for this one. 

The No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the hottest teams in the conference, but while they're capable of putting up but numbers, there's no doubt that the Lions can play D as well. Additionally, we can note that they're 4-1 to the under in their last five games. 

10* play on UNDER. 

KINGS @ BUCKS MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Sacramento Kings are coming off a 122-102 win over San Antonio. The over/under is 16-8 in Kings' games when the total is greater than or equal to 220 on the season and 11-3 in their last 14 overall. Here they'll face a Milwaukee side that is averaging more points per game than any other team in the league and the over is 16-5 in the Bucks' last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

Over is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings. Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Milwaukee.

8* play on OVER. 

JAZZ @ ROCKETS SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Houston Rockets had averaged 122.8 ppg through a four-game winning streak before coming out flat in a 127-91 loss at Phoenix last time out. Here they'll face a Utah Jazz team that just snapped a four-game skid with a 117-114 triumph over Portland and will be looking to keep the momentum going. 

Over is 7-1 in Jazz last 8 road games and 18-6 in their last 24 Sunday games.

Over is 15-6 in Jazz games when the total is greater than or equal to 220 points and 2-0 when the total is greater than or equal to 230. 

8* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT SPURS @ KINGS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off three straight defeats, and they've allowed 125+ points in each of the last two. The bookmakers expect the Spurs to end the skid as a small favorite at Sacramento Saturday night, and we can note that the Over is 7-3 in Spurs last 10 games as a favorite and  6-1 in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. As for the Kings, they're 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games as an underdog and 10-2 to the over in their last 12 overall.

Over is 12-6-1 in Kings' games with a total closing at 223 points or more this season while the Spurs are 16-8 to the over in such games. 

10* play on OVER. 

WEST VIRGINIA @ OKLAHOMA BIG 12 BOOKIE BREAKER *TOP PLAY*

The West Virginia Mountaineers have a top-20 scoring defense in the nation and have held their last two opponents to an average of 59 points. They're 15-7 to the under on the season and 6-2 to the under in their last eight road games. 

As for the Oklahoma Sooners, they've struggled to shoot the ball lately (63.2 ppg average last five games). Eight of their last 10 overall and each of their last six games closing as an underdog have gone under the total. I think they'll struggle to get open looks against this solid West Virginia team and that we'll see the final score stay under the posted total with quite some margin. 

10* play on UNDER. 

BLAZERS @ JAZZ LATE NIGHT TOTAL

The Portland Trail Blazers have played four straight overs following a 125-117 win over San Antonio Thursday night. Facing a defensively challenged Portland side with heavy legs just might be what Utah needs to break out of its five-game slump. Last time out, the Jazz were held to 95 points by Denver, but note that over is 9-3 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and 6-1 in Trail Blazers last seven games as an underdog.

8* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED TGIF NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

Both the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors are very accomplished on the defensive end, but note that they're both 27-23-1 to the over on the season. 

The Raptors defeated Indiana 119-118 in Toronto just a couple of days ago (total closed at 216) to push their winning streak to 12 games, and I expect this to fly over as well. 

Over is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 road games. Over is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 home games and 6-1 in their last 7 games as an underdog.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER*

I expect to see a relatively low-scoring affair when the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Thursday night. 

Louisiana Tech owns a top-25 scoring defense in the nation on the season, and the total for this contest is inflated after four straight overs through a four-game winning streak. Five of its previous six had gone under though and under is 25-12-1 in the Bulldogs last 38 road games. 

As for the Hilltoppers, they've alternated over and unders through their last four games, and we can note that they're 11-4 to the under in their last 15 games as a home underdog (WK is a 1.5-point dog at the time of this pick). 

Louisiana Tech came away with a 62-50 home win against Western Kentucky in the lone meeting last season and while more points is expected for this one, I doubt it'll reach the posted total.

10* play on UNDER. 

PELICANS @ BULLS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

While the Chicago Bulls are on the lower end for offensive efficiency, I think they should be able to put up a fair amount of points against a New Orleans Pelicans side that is allowing 117.2 ppg on the season and took a 120-108 loss to Milwaukee last time out. The Pels are 14-5 to the over in their last 19 overall and 7-2 to the over in their last nine games as a favorite. As for the Bulls, they've allowed an average of 131 points through their last two games and each of their last five has gone over the total. 

10* play on OVER. 

GRIZZLIES @ MAVS NBA TOP RATED TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a 96-82 win over Detroit. I think buckets will come a lot easier for both sides when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. Memphis is 6-2 to the over through its last eight on the road and the over is 6-1-1 in its last eight vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Additionally, the Grizzlies are 12-7 to the over in games with a total of 225 points or higher while the Mavs are 11-6 to the over in such games. 

10* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT SPURS @ LAKERS $20 TUESDAY SPECIAL

The San Antonio Spurs let us down on Monday as we lost with the under in their 108-105 loss at LA Clippers. The over is 18-6 in Spurs last 24 games playing on no rest, and that's a trend I expect to continue here at the Clippers cross-town rival Tuesday night. The LA Lakers are coming off a 129-113 triumph over Sacramento and they're 9-2 to the over through their last 11 games. Additionally, the over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles.

8* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT SPURS @ CLIPPERS BOOKIE BREAKER

The San Antonio Spurs managed just 90 points in a home loss to Charlotte last time out but they average 110.0 points per 100 possessions (5th) on the season. They're however almost as poor on the defensive end as they're prolific when on the ball. Here they'll visit an LA Clippers team that averages a healthy 115.4 ppg and just put a 118-106 beating on Minnesota and I predict a high-scoring affair. 

Over is 6-2 in Spurs last 8 games as a road underdog, 7-2-1 in Clippers last 10 games as a home favorite and 7-0-1 in their last 8 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points. Additionally, the over is 20-8-2 in Clippers last 30 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

8* play on OVER. 

SUPER EARLY NUGGETS @ PISTONS TOTAL

The Detroit Pistons are 31-19 to the over on the season, but I think they'll be involved in a relatively low-scoring contest when hosting the Denver Nuggets Sunday afternoon. Denver owns a top-five scoring defense in the league, and while it picked up a 127-115 victory at the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, note that under is 9-3 in Nuggets last 12 after allowing 100 points or more in its previous game. Additionally, note that under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

8* play on UNDER. 

SATURDAY NIGHT KNICKS @ PACERS NO BRAINER

The New York Knicks rank near the bottom of the league for most offensive categories. Points won't come easy for the Knickerbockers in this one, facing an Indiana team that ranks top 10 for points allowed and that limited the Bulls to 106 points last time out, despite going to overtime. Both teams have pace factors that rank in the bottom-third of the league and three of the last four head-to-head meetings have gone under the total, including a 104-103 Indiana win in New York on Dec 7. 

Under is 6-2 in Knicks last 8 overall. Under is 13-5 in Pacers last 18 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

8* play on UNDER. 

WOLVES @ CLIPPERS TOTA *MATINEE MASSACRE*

The over is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings at Staples Center and the posted total for today's matinee matchup looks a little light. Minnesota has been abysmal on the defensive end all season long and it has surrendered 130+ points in two of its last three games. The Clippers have the fifth-best points per game average in the league and should be well up for this contest after taking a 103-124 loss to Sacramento last time out. 

Over is 7-1-1 in Clippers last 9 games as a home favorite. Over is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 games as a road underdog.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER ALERT*

The Toronto Raptors will be playing on no rest following a 115-109 win at Cleveland on Thursday. We were on the wrong side of the total backing the under in that game, and I expect to see this contest fly over the total as well.

The Raptors are now 7-1 to the over in their last eight on the road, and while they're one of the best defensive teams in the league, heavy legs could become an issue in this one.

As for the Detroit Pistons, they're 8-1 to the over in their last nine overall and 7-0 to the over in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

10* play on OVER. 

RAPTORS @ CAVS NBA TOTAL

While the Toronto Raptors are more than capable of putting up a ton of points, I don't see them going crazy here with a matchup with the Pistons at Detroit on deck tomorrow. The Raptors have the fifth-best scoring defense, and here they'll take on a Cleveland team that has one of the worst points per game averages in the league. 

Toronto is good at shutting down poor teams as proven by the fact that it is 22-8-1 to the under in its last 31 vs. a team with a losing straight up record while the Cavs are 6-2 to the under in their last eight home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

8* play on UNDER. 

$20 TUESDAY SPECIAL NBA TOTAL

The Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks are both among the worst offensive teams in the NBA. Additionally, no team in the NBA has a lower pace factor than the Hornets who average just 98.9 possessions per game and I think they'll be particularly interested to keep the tempo down in this one, just coming back home from a trip across the pond after battling Milwaukee in Paris, France, Friday night. 

Over their last three games, the Hornets have averaged 90.6 ppg and they're 5-1 to the under through their last six games. As for the Knicks, they're 27-20 to the under on the season and the under is 11-5 in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.

8* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Dallas Mavericks have one of the best road records in the league at 15-6, and I like their chances to win and cover the small number when visiting Oklahoma City Monday night.

The Thunder have admittedly played pretty well of late, coming off five straight wins with underdog wins against Houston, Orlando, and Minnesota during that stretch.

This is a tough spot though as they'll be playing their third game in four nights and note that the Mavs are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games as a road favorite and 6-2 ATS in the last eight head-to-head meetings with OKC. 

Additionally, I also like this contest to go over the total. Over is 7-2 in Thunder last 9 overall. Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Oklahoma City.

8* play on OVER.

RAPTORS @ SPURS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors recorded a 118-112 win at Madison Square Garden on Friday and they're 5-1 to the over through their last six games. Here they'll face a San Antonio team that is 27-17 to the over on the season and 8-2 to the over through its last 10 games following a straight up loss, which the Spurs are after taking a 103-99 loss to Phoenix Friday night. 

Toronto owns the third-best three-point shooting percentage in the league while San Antonio ranks seventh. I think we can count on a high-scoring contest at AT&T Center on Sunday. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED MAVS @ JAZZ TOTAL

The Utah Jazz are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but note that the over is 5-1 in their last six games overall and 4-1 in their last five after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Last time out, Utah put a 129-96 beating on Golden State and I predict a high-scoring affair when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The Mavs have scored 120+ points in four of their last five games and won 133-125 at Portland on Thursday. They have the third-best scoring average in the league and are 27-17 to the over on the season. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL

The West Virginia Mountaineers and the Missouri Tigers are both 12-6 to the under on the season, and both teams rank in the top 30 in the nation for points allowed. Additionally, Missouri has struggled to score points through a 1-5 slide and it'll face a West Virginia side that has held four of its last five opponents to fewer than 60 points. 

Under is 6-0 in Missouri games when the total is 130 to 139.5 points and 3-0 in West Virginia's games fitting the same criteria. 

10* play on UNDER. 

LATE SUNS @ SPURS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are 27-16 to the over on the season and both of their last two games have seen a total of 238 points scored. Here they'll host a Phoenix Suns team that took an 112-87 loss to Indiana last time out, but it had been involved in a couple of high-scoring contests prior to that. Over is 6-2 in the Suns last 8 games as an underdog and 18-6 in Spurs last 24 games as a favorite.

10* play on OVER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Two of the worst teams in the league will battle it out at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland Thursday night, but I think they'll entertain the crowd with a high-paced high-scoring contest. 

The Washington Wizards rank dead last for points allowed with 120.1 ppg, but they're also top five for points scored. They should be particularly poor on defense here, playing on no rest after taking a 134-129 OT loss at Miami last night. 

As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they're 8-3 to the over in their last 11 overall and 9-4 to the over in their last 13 as a home favorite while the over is 8-2 in the Wizards last 10 games as a road underdog.

10* play on OVER. 

MIDWEEK MADNESS 3-PACK OF NBA WINNERS

The Chicago Bulls have one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the league at just 102.6 points per 100 possessions. They're 5-1 to the under in their last six overall and 6-2 to the under in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, which they are after taking a 111-98 loss at Milwaukee on Monday. As for the Minnesota Timberwolves, they've struggled to score points during a six-game slide and the under is 9-4 in the Wolves last 13 games following a straight up loss.

8* play on UNDER. 

MIDWEEK MADNESS 3-PACK OF NBA WINNERS

The Toronto Raptors are coming off four straight overs, but I expect to see a relatively low-scoring contest when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. The Raptors are 7-2-1 to the under in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and the 29-16 Sixers fit that bill. Additionally, we can note that Philly is 5-1 to the under in its last six games on the road and that both teams have a top 5 defensive efficiency rating for the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

MIDWEEK MADNESS 3-PACK OF NBA WINNERS

The Orlando Magic have one of the lowest pace factors in the league and they're 11-3-1 to the under in their last 15 overall. Here they'll host an OKC Thunder team that is 37-14-1 to the under in its last 52 games as an underdog and held the Rockets to 107 points in a win at Houston last time out. Orlando is holding opponents to a league-best 103.9 ppg, but it ranks near the bottom of the NBA for points scored. 

8* play on UNDER. 

$20 TUESDAY NCAAB TOTAL

The Ohio Bobcats are coming off a couple of games that stayed under the total, but I expect to see a relatively high-scoring game when they host the Toledo Rockets Tuesday night. Toledo won 99-89 at Akron last time out and they're 5-2 to the over in their last five at home. The Rockets were 15-of-26 (58%) from behind the arc against the Zips and their 3-point shooting percentage rank 26th in the nation on the season. 

8* play on OVER. 

NCAAB MLK DAY TOP PLAY - LATE START

The Baylor Bears have the sixth best scoring defense in the nation, allowing just 58.6 ppg. They're coming off a high-scoring 75-68 win at Oklahoma State but had played four straight unders prior to that. Here they'll face an Oklahoma team that also had played four straight unders prior to an 83-63 loss to TCU. Under is 7-3 in Sooners last 10 games as a road underdog and 6-1 in Bears last 7 games as a home favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

MAGIC @ HORNETS MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets are both among the lowest-scoring teams in the league and I have no doubt that this one will go under the total. Orlando has scored 95 points in back-to-back games while Charlotte was held to 86 in 1 loss at Denver last time out. Additionally, note that Orlando owns the best scoring defense in the NBA. 

Under is 10-3-1 in Magic last 14 overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NFL): MIKE'S CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOTAL *BEST BET*

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a wild 51-31 win over Houston in the divisional round, but I think we'll see a much lower-scoring game when they take on the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game.

Tennessee's two playoff games have seen just 33 and 40 points respectively, and we can note that the under is 5-2 in the Chiefs' last seven games.

The Titans will rely on running back Derrick Henry to move the ball, and while he's likely to have decent success, it will also drain the clock and keep the ball out of KC QB Patrick Mahomes' hands.

While the Chiefs are capable of explosive plays as seen in last week's shootout, note that the Titans have held their last two opponents to 12 and 13 points, despite facing the Pats and the Ravens! 

10* play on UNDER. 

MAGIC @ WARRIORS SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Only three teams in the NBA have a lower pace factor than the Orlando Magic who average only 100.5 possessions per game while the Golden State Warriors are second to last for offensive efficiency. Last time out, Orlando was held to 95 points on 39 percent shooting from the field in a loss at LA Clippers while Golden State has been held to 104 points or fewer in seven of its last eight games, the lone exception a 134-131 OT loss to Denver on Thursday. 

Under is 9-3 in Magic last 12 games as a road favorite. Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 games as an underdog and 9-2 in their last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Dallas Mavericks have the best offensive efficiency score in the league at 114.4 points per 100 possessions and they're coming off a 127-123 win at Sacramento. Over is 7-2 in Mavericks last 9 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and they'll face a Portland team that scored 117 points in a win at Houston last time out. Over is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings and 14-6 in Mavericks last 20 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, which Portland is at 9-14 away from home. 

8* play on OVER. 

WIZARDS @ RAPTORS FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors are coming off a 130-21 win at OKC. The over is 20-7 in their last 27 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and I think they'll be involved in another high-scoring contest when they host the Washington Wizards Friday night. The Wizards are 22-17-1 to the over on the season and 6-2 to the over in their last eight games as a road underdog. They love to push the tempo and Toronto should be confident enough in its scoring ability to not mind a shootout. 

10* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Indiana Pacers are one of the slowest teams in the league at just 100.7 possessions per game. Here they'll take on a Minnesota team that ranks near the bottom of the league for shooting from the field and from three-point range. The teams combined for 203 points in a 104-99 Indiana win at Minnesota a couple of days ago, and I expect this to be another low-scoring affair. 

8* play on UNDER. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NCAAB TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The No. 16 Wichita State's explosive offense averages 77.6 ppg on the season and the Shockers have poured in points through a nine-game winning streak. Here they'll take on a Temple side that has dropped three straight games and surrendered 70+ points in two of those contests. While Temple is a fairly low-scoring team, Wichita State has weaknesses on the defensive end that can be exploited. 

Over is 9-1 in Shockers last 10 overall. Over is 6-2 in Shockers' last 8 games as a road favorite. Over is 6-0 in Owls last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

10* play on OVER. 

RAPTORS @ THUNDER WEDNESDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Toronto Raptors boast one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the NBA and they are 6-2 to the under through their last eight games. They are very effective defending the perimeter, which will spell big trouble for the OKC Thunder who struggle to shoot the three-ball as it is. We can also note that both neither team likes to push the pace, with OKC particularly slow at just 100.5 possessions per game which ranks 24th in the league.

8* play on UNDER. 

TUESDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The New York Knicks have been involved in several high-scoring affairs lately. They've surrendered an average of 124.8 points over their last five games and five of their last six have gone over the total. The Milwaukee Bucks have scored 122+ points in back-to-back games and they average a solid 119.2 ppg on the season. I don't see how the Knicks will be able to slow down arguably the best team in the league, and I think the final scoreline for this contest will fly over the total with ease. 

10* play on OVER. 

DUKE @ CLEMSON NCAAB TUESDAY NIGHT $20 SPECIAL

The No. 3 Duke Blue Devils are a sizable favorite when visiting ACC rival Clemson Tigers Tuesday night. The under is 8-3-1 in Blue Devils' last 12 games as a road favorite and 15-5-2 in their last 22 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points, which they are coming off a 90-59 rout of Wake Forest. Duke has held opponents to 62.3 ppg on the season and Clemson is averaging only 68.7 ppg. The Tigers have been solid on the defensive end though, limiting opponents to 63.7 ppg. 

8* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Ball State Cardinals took a 75-60 loss at Akron last time out, but they had defeated Buffalo 88-68 their last time out prior to that contest. They're 2-0 to the over after scoring 60 points or fewer last time out this season and here they'll face an Eastern Michigan Eagles side that has surrendered 71.3 ppg through a three-game slide. Ball State is averaging a 71+ ppg on the season, and while the Eagles have struggled offensively I still think both teams will contribute enough points to push the final score over the posted total. 

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (NCAAF): MIKE'S CLEMSON VS. LSU TOTAL *BEST BET*

The Clemson Tigers top ranked defense limited the powerful Ohio State Buckeyes to 23 points in the Fiesta Bowl. That was the most points they've allowed all season, and I think they'll make life difficult for LSU in the NCAA Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. 

The Tigers put up 63 points in their win over Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl, but the Sooners defense was extremely underwhelming. LSU QB Joe Burrow shredded Oklahoma with 493 passsing yards and seven(!) touchdown passes while also adding 22 yards and a score on the ground, but with two weeks to prepare you better believe Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will have done his homework on the Heisman trophy winner. 

As for the Tigers offense, that's not where the team's strength is. Sure, their 45.3 ppg ranks fourth in the nation, but that's against much worse teams than LSU. They can afford to turn this into a shootout, and I think the value is on the under in this matchup. 

10* play on UNDER. 

BULLS @ CELTICS MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Boston Celtiocs snapped a three-game losing streak with a dominant 140-105 rout of New New Orleans on Saturday. The under is 4-1 in the Celtics last five after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game and 5-2 in their last seven games as a favorite, which they clearly will close as when hosting the Chicago Bulls Monday night. 

Chicago ranks near the bottom of the league for offensive efficiency, but the team has done a fairly good job on the defensive end, ranking just outside top 10 for defensive efficiency. The Celtics enter the week top five in the latter category, and I think this will be a relatively low-scoring game. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR JANUARY

The Montreal Canadiens snapped an ugly eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 overtime win at Ottawa on Saturday. Goals have been extremely hard to come by for the Habs lately and here they'll face a Calgary team that has allowed a total of six goals through its last three games. 

Under is 6-1-1 in Flames last 8 games as a road favorite and 18-6-3 in their last 27 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 6-1 in Canadiens last 7 overall. Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

WARRIORS @ GRIZZLIES TOP PLAY

The Golden State Warriors have dropped seven straight games and they've been held to 100 points or fewer in five of their last four. A date with Memphis could be just what they need to get on track offensively with the Grizzlies allowing 116.4 ppg (27th) on the season. The Grizzlies have been red hot on the offensive end in recent games, averaging 125.7 ppg through their last seven games. 

Over is 10-1 in Grizzlies last 11 home games and 6-1 in their last 7 overall.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED NBA TOTAL

The Dallas Mavericks took a 129-114 loss at LA Lakers Friday night. Heavy legs won't do them any favors on the defensive end here, and I think this will be another high-scoring contest for the Mavs who are 23-14 to the over on the season. As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they limited the Celtics to 98 points in a triumph last time out, but note that the over is 4-0 in the Sixers' last four trips to Dallas.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED DIVISIONAL ROUND TOTAL

The San Francisco 49ers defense was dominant at the start of the season but got worn down and faded down the stretch. They will be fresh and healthy following a bye week and I expect to see a low-scoring contest in their divisional-round matchup with Minnesota. 

The Vikings held Drew Brees and the Saints to 20 points in their wild-card matchup last week and the team ranks 6th in the NFL for points allowed. The Niners defense ranks second in the NFL for points allowed and no team is better at stopping the pass with the team holding opponents to 169.2 passing yards per game. 

Additionally, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has a tendency to choke in big games and I don't trust Niners' signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo to have a big game in his first postseason outing. 

Under is 8-3-1 in Vikings last 12 playoff games. Under is 17-8-1 in Vikings last 26 games as a road underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB: MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR JANUARY

I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring game when the Ohio State Buckeyes visit the Indiana Hoosiers in college basketball action Saturday afternoon. The Buckeyes are 4-1 to the under through their last five games and 10-5 to the under on the season. They've been held to fewer than 60 points in three straight contests and shot just 31% from the field in a 55-67 loss to Maryland on Tuesday. As for Indiana, it defeated Northwestern 66-62 last time out to make it 4-0 to the under through its last four games. 

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Orlando Magic own the best scoring defense in the NBA, allowing just 103.4 ppg. They're one of the worst teams on the offensive end though and the Magic are 4-0 to the under through their last four games. As for the Phoenix Suns, they were held to 103 points in a loss to Sacramento last time out. Orlando has one of the slowest pace factors in the NBA, and I don't think they'll slow down the tempo in this one. 

8* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Charlotte Hornets have the lowest pace factor in the NBA with 99.2 possessions per game. The Utah Jazz are not likely to drive up the tempo, and scoring on the Jazz with their feisty defense is never easy. The Jazz held the Knicks to 104 points last time out and they're 7-2 to the under in their last nine against a team with a losing straight up record.

8* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Only three teams in the NBA have a higher pace factor (105.5 possessions per game) than the Memphis Grizzlies. They've averaged 126.7 ppg through a three-game winning streak and here the Grizzlies will host a San Antonio team that ranks in the bottom third for defensive efficiency with 109.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Spurs are still in the middle of the pack in the conference due to their success on the offensive end, ranking sixth in the league for points scored and third-best in field goal percentage. 

Over is 5-1 in Spurs last 6 overall. Over is 8-0 in Grizzlies last 8 home games. Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings at FedexForum. 

10* play on OVER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Portland Trail Blazers look like solid road favorite at Minnesota Thursday night. They're a perfect 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS) as a road favorite of three points or fewer on the season and they'll be looking to close out a five-game road trip with a win after splitting the first four games. As for the Timberwolves, they took a 119-112 loss at Memphis last time out and they miss All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns who has been out for 11 straight games due to a knee injury. 

In addition to the Blazers winning, I also like the under. Note that the Blazers are 6-0 to the under in their last 6 as a road favorite and the under is 8-3 in the Timberwolves last 11 overall. Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

8* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The New York Knicks average of 104.2 ppg is one of the absolute worst marks in the NBA, and points will be particularly hard to come by in this one against a Utah defense that is among the best in the league. Additionally, we can note that the under is 11-2 in Knicks last 13 games playing on no rest (they took a 117-87 loss to the Lakers in LA last night) and 21-10-1 in their last 32 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

8* play on UNDER. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

Both the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers rank in the top 10 for points allowed per game on the season. Additionally, we can note that Miami will be playing on two days rest (Under is 9-3 in its last 12 games playing on two days rest) while the under is 25-11 in Pacers last 36 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

8* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Charlotte Hornets have the lowest pace factor in the NBA with just 100.9 possessions per game. They took a 115-104 loss to Indiana on Monday and the under is 7-2 in the Hornets last 9 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. As for the Toronto Raptors, they fell 101-99 to Portland on Tuesday. Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games playing on no rest and 10-2-1 in their last 13 games as a road favorite.

8* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT BUCKS @ SPURS BOOKIE BLASTER

The Milwaukee Bucks are averaging a league-best 119.6 ppg, and here they'll face a San Antonio side that has had major issues to stop teams from scoring all season long. These two teams battled it out in Milwaukee just a couple of days ago, a contest the Bucks won 127-118 and I expect to see another shootout here in the second leg of the home-and-home series. 

The Spurs are 9-5 and the Bucks 13-8-1 to the over in games with a total of 225 points or higher this season.

Over is 15-5-1 in Spurs last 21 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game and 6-2 in their last 8 overall.

8* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Indiana Pacers will be looking to get back on track defensively after giving up an average of 120 points in back-to-back losses. They still boast one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the league, and here they'll face a Charlotte team that has been held to 104 points or fewer in four of its last six games. Under is 14-5-1 in Pacers last 20 vs. a team with a losing straight up record, 4-1 in Pacers last 5 games as a road favorite and 8-3 in Hornets last 11 games as a home underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies are both among the worst teams in the league for points allowed. Both teams have been heating up on the offensive side of the hardwood lately as well with Memphis scoring 117+ points in three straight games (won 140-114 at LA Clippers on Saturday) and Phoenix scoring 120+ in two of its last three games. 

Over is 6-0 in Grizzlies last 6 games playing on no rest and 8-2 in Suns last 10 games as a home favorite. The over/under is 25-11 in all NBA games with a total of more than 233 points this season. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED VIKES @ SAINTS TOTAL

This number has moved up several points since the opener, and I disagree completely with the move. 

The Minnesota Vikings have been held to 20 points or fewer in three of their last four games, and QB Kirk Cousins has a tendency to do poorly in prime time games. While this technically isn't a prime time game, he'll no doubt know that all eyes will on this game. 

Additionally, star tailback Dalvin Cook has missed the past two with a shoulder injury and the New Orleans Saints rank fourth in the NFL for rushing yards allowed.  

As for the Saints offense, they've scored 34 points or more in four straight games, but Minnesota owns a stronger D than any of the teams they faced during that stretch.

10* play on UNDER. 

SATURDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *BOOKIE BLASTER*

The Orlando Magic will be playing on no rest following a 105-85 win over Miami on Friday. They held the Heat to six points in the final quarter of that contest and the Magic have held five of their last six opponents to 101 points or fewer. On the season, they rank second in the league for points allowed and you always know that the Utah Jazz will bring it on the defensive end of the hardwood.  

Under is 5-1 in Jazz last 6 games as a road favorite. Under is 7-2-1 in Magic last 10 games as a home underdog.

8* play on UNDER. 

Top rated nba

The bookmakers expect the Portland Trail Blazers and the Washington Wizards to run up and down the court and score at will in this matchup, and it's hard to disagree. While casual bettors might be discouraged by the big number, I'm not. Note that the over is 30-10 in NBA games with a total of 235 points or more this season and I doubt these two teams will disappoint. 

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED GRIZZLIES @ KINGS TOTAL

The Memphis Grizzlies have one of the worst defensive efficiency ratings in the league and the Sacramento Kings are also in the bottom half in that category. Additionally, only a handful of teams have a higher pace-factor than Memphis which is 8-2 to the over through its last 10 games. As for the Kings, they've seen the majority of their games going under the total this season, but I think we'll see points come fast and easy in this matchup between two defensively challenged teams. 

10* play on OVER. 

NUGGETS @ PACERS TOTAL

The Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers are both among the best defensive teams in the NBA. That's also the reason why the bookmakers are giving us such a low total on this game, but I don't think they can make it low enough. Note that Indiana ranks 23rd for pace while only the Kings have a lower pace factor than Denver. 

Under is 8-2 in Nuggets last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 25-10 in Pacers last 35 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

8* play on UNDER. 

NEW YEAR'S DAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL BANKROLL BUILDER

The Marquette Golden Eagles limited Central Arkansas to 54 points on 31 percent shooting last time out and they rank 18th in the nation for defensive field goal percentage on the season. As for the Creighton Bluejays, they held Midland Lutheran to 54 points last time out and they've limited three of their last four opponents to 60 points or fewer. Under is 20-8 in Bluejays last 28 overall and we saw a total of just 126 points scored in the last headto-head meeting between these two teams.

8* play on UNDER. 

BLAZERS @ KNICKS NEW YEARS DAY *TOP PLAY*

The Portland Trail Blazers enter this contest as losers of four straight and they've allowed 120+ points in each of their last three games. This looks like a good spot to get back on track defensively against a Knicks team that is one of the worst in league with its 43 percent shooting from the field. Defensively, the Knicks have been solid over their last couple of games, first holding the Nets to 82 points and the Wizards to 100 points even last time out. Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings and I think this will be another relatively low-scoring affair. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (SOCCER): MIKE'S TOP RATED PREMIER LEAGUE TOTAL

Chelsea are coming off a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Arsenal and 12 of their 14 away games in all competitions this season have seen three goals or more. Here they'll visit a Brighton team that is coming off a 2-0 win over Bournemouth, and the team has made itself known for its positive and attacking style of football. I think we'll see both sides going for the W, and one of them will most likely succeed but a shutout win for either side is unlikely. 

10* play on OVER. 

NEW YEARS EVE NBA 3-PACK

The San Antonio Spurs are 4-1 to the over through their last five games and they defeated Detroit 136-109 on Dec 28. The Golden State Warriors saw a four-game winning streak come to an end with a 141-121 loss to Dallas on the same night. New Years Eve games are 17-4 to the over over the last three seasons. 

8* play on OVER. 

NEW YEARS EVE NBA 3-PACK

The Los Angeles Clippers have seen four of their last five games go over the total following a 120-107 loss to Utah last time out. Over is 8-3 in Clippers last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points and 5-1 in their last 6 games as a favorite. As for the Sacramento Kings, they're 4-1 to the over in their last five as underdogs and they gave up 120 points in a loss at Denver last time out. New Years Eve games are 17-4 to the over over the last three seasons. 

8* play on OVER. 

NEW YEARS EVE NBA 3-PACK

The Boston Celtics took a 113-97 loss to Toronto last time out. They had played three straight overs prior to that and they're 20-8 to the over through their last 28 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Over is 5-1 in Hornets last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and New Years Eve games are 17-4 to the over over the last three seasons. 

8* play on OVER. 

SUNS @ BLAZERS LATE NIGHT NBA *TOP PLAY*

Both teams rank in the top 10 for points scored per game and bottom 10 for points allowed. Last time out Portland took a 128-120 loss to the Lakers and Phoenix has seen four of its last five overall go over the total. 

Over is 17-6-1 in Trail Blazers last 24 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, 23-11-1 in their last 35 games as a home favorite and 4-0 in Suns last 4 games as an underdog.

Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Portland.

10* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOTAL

The North Florida Osprey have averaged 75.5 points through their last two games, but still dropped both. Over is 6-1 in their last seven games and here they'll visit a Dayton team that is 8-4 to the over on the season. The Flyers rank sixth in the nation for points per game and they're first in field goal percentage. Ibi Watson scored a career-high 30 points in an 81-53 rout of Grambling State on Dec. 23. 

With both teams coming off a rather long Christmas break, I think a high tempo will make up for eventual rust. 

8* play on OVER. 

THUNDER @ RAPTORS *TOP PLAY*

The Toronto Raptors have one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the league, and they showed why in a 113-97 win at Boston last night. Playing on no rest, a low tempo game will be in the interest of the Raptors and I think the OKC Thunder will oblige as they average just100.9 possessions per game (25th in the league) anyhow. OKC is coming off a 104-102 win at Charlotte, a low-scoring game despite going to OT.  

Under is 36-15-1 in Thunder's last 52 games as a road underdog. Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games as a favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 17 TOTAL

The Baltimore Ravens have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and are as a result expected to rest their starters. I don't see their backups moving the ball well against a Pittsburgh defense that is one of the best in the league, particularly with the Steelers highly motivated and still in the race for a wild-card spot.

As for the Steelers offense, it's been lackluster all season long and ranks 30th for total yards and 26th for points scored.

The Steelers have played seven straight unders and only three of their 15 games on the season have gone over the total. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

The Florida Gators shot just 32 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range in a 65-62 setback to Utah State last time out. I expect them to have much more success here against a Long Beach State side that is allowing 78.0 ppg and gave up 79 in a loss at Seattle on Dec 23.

Over is 6-1 in Beach last 7 road games and 5-1 in Gators last 6 overall.

10* play on OVER. 

EARLY CAVS @ CELTICS NBA NO BRAINER - 4 PM ET START

The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the NBA, and here they'll run into a Boston team that is boasting one of the best defenses in the league. Over their last four games, the Celtics have allowed 103, 93, 93 and 102 points and it defeated Cleveland 110-88 on Dec. 3 in the last matchup in this series. 

8* play on UNDER. 

KNICKS @ NETS - BATTLE OF NEW YORK

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a 122-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, but I think we'll see a lower scoring contest when they host their in-city rival New York Knicks on Thursday. The Knicks offense is one of the worst in the league, and Brooklyn ranks 5th in the NBA holding opponents to 43.3 percent shooting from the field. Each of the last seven meetings in this series has gone under the total.  

8* play on UNDER. 

LATE NIGHT PELICANS @ NUGGETS XMAS DAY *TOP PLAY*

Last year the 10 NBA games on Christmas Day went 6-2-2 to the under, and I think this late matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Denver Nuggets will follow that trend.. Only three teams own a better defensive efficiency rating than Denver and the same is true for its pace factor. The New Orleans Pelicans have their struggles on the defensive end but note that the under is 7-2 in their last 9 games as an underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

SUPER EARLY CELTICS @ RAPTORS XMAS DAY TOTAL

Last year the 10 NBA games on Christmas Day went 6-2-2 to the under, and I think this early matchup will follow that trend.

The Boston Celtics have held two straight opponents (Detroit and Charlotte) to 93 points and only the Milwaukee Bucks own a better defensive efficiency rating than Boston and the Toronto Raptors this season. Toronto has been involved in several high-scoring affairs lately, but that's not all that surprising considering the opponents they've faced during that stretch. Still, under is 9-4 in Raptors last 13 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 16-5 in Celtics last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. 

8* play on UNDER. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Orlando Magic have been one of the worst teams against the spread this season and they enter this contest as losers of six of their last seven straight up. They've averaged 103 ppg through their last three games and took a 118-103 loss at Portland last time out. Here they'll host a Chicago Bulls team that is coming off back-to-back road wins, most recently a 119-107 win as a 10-point dog at Detroit. 

The Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. The Magic meanwhile are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

Under is 16-5 in Magic last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and they rank 27th in the NBA in field-goal percentage. I think their offensive struggles will continue against a Bulls team that is not all that bad defensively. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED WEEK 16 TOTAL

I think points will come at a premium for both sides at Foxboro this Saturday, and even though we're seeing a very low total I don't think the books can make this low enough. Buffalo is averaging only 20.9 ppg while the Pats have held opponents to 12.9 ppg and the Bills have scored 17 points in back-to-back games. As for New England, while it broke out for 34 points last time out, that was against the Bengals ... It had averaged only 17.6 ppg through its last five prior to that and the Bills defense ranks second to the Pats for points allowed at 15.9 ppg. 

Under is 7-0 in Bills last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 8-3 in Patriots last 11 home games. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

Both sides rank near the bottom of the league for defensive efficiency with Memphis allowing 109.2 points per 100 possessions and Cleveland 111.3 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, while the Grizzlies have been known as a slow team in recent seasons, this edition is much different with only three teams playing at a faster pace. 

Over is 12-5 in Grizzlies last 17 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Over is 16-3 in Cavaliers last 19 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

10* play on OVER. 

NETS @ SPURS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to bounce back from a 109-107 loss at Houston on Monday. They did a good job defensively holding the Rockets to 41 percent shooting from the field and they're 8-2 to the under in their last 10 playing two days rest. Here they'll face a Brooklyn Nets side that is 5-1 to the under in its last six games and saw just 209 points in its last game, despite going to overtime. 

10* play on UNDER. 

MAGIC @ JAZZ TUESDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The Utah Jazz are holding opponents to 103 points per 100 possessions and they are very capable slowing down the tempo to a snail's pace, something that's likely to happen here with only two teams playing at a slower pace than the Orlando Magic.  Both the Jazz and the Magic rank in the bottom 10 of the NBA for offensive efficiency, with Orlando particularly poor at scoring just 103.4 points per 100 possessions.  

Under is 16-5 in Jazz last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

The Ottawa Senators took a 6-1 loss at Florida last night, and heavy legs will certainly not do them any favors on the defensive end of the rink here at Tampa Bay the following night. The Sens have seen six of their last seven go over the total and the over is 9-2-1 in the Lightning's last 12 games as a home favorite. Seven of the last nine head-to-head meetings between these two clubs have gone over the total and I predict another high-scoring affair tonight. 

10* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

The Houston Rockets own the third-best offensive efficiency rating in the league and they also have the third-highest pace factor. Here they'll face a San Antonio Spurs team that is giving up 109.7 points per 100 possessions and has seen four straight games go to overtime. Over is 6-2 in Spurs last 8 road games and 5-2-1 in Rockets last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

8* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

The Milwaukee Bucks are playing at the highest pace in the league and they have the second-best offensive efficiency rating. No. 1 is the Dallas Mavericks who are 4-1 to the over in their last 5 games and 7-2 to the over in their last 9 games following a straight-up loss. Last time out, Dallas fell 122-118 in OT against Miami while Milwaukee is coming off a 125-107 win over Cleveland, the third straight game it scored 125+ points. 

8* play on OVER. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA 3-PACK

Only the Milwaukee Bucks own a better defensive efficiency rating than the Toronto Raptors who limited Brooklyn to 102 points last time out. Each of the Raptors last three games have under the total and they're 6-1 to the under in their last 7 Monday games. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have just six wins in 26 games, own the second-worst offensive efficiency rating in the league and under is 21-7-1 in Raptors last 29 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL): MIKE'S TOP RATED NFL TOTAL FOR WEEK 15

I think Sunday afternoon's matchup between the LA Rams and the Dallas Cowboys will be a relatively low-scoring affair. Dallas has averaged just 13 ppg through a three-game slide, and here it'll face a Rams defense that has been one of the best in the league since acquiring star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The under is 7-1 in the Rams last 8 games overall and 12-3 in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. 

10* play on UNDER. 

TEXANS @ TITANS SUNDAY AFTERNOON TOTAL

The Tennessee Titans have won four on the bounce while averaging 37.5 points per game with Ryan Tannehill at the helm. The Houston Texans took a disappointing 38-24 home loss to the Denver Broncos last week and their defense ranks 25th in total defense and 27th in the league against the pass. On the offensive side of the ball, Houston rarely has any issues to move the ball and I expect a big bounce back game from QB Deshaun Watson who threw for 292 yards with a TD and two INTs last week. 

Over is 7-0 in Titans last 7 games overall.

8* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The bookmakers have posted a low total for this game, but that does not discourage me from betting the under. Note that the Nuggets are 6-1-1 to the under in games with a total of 210 points or less this season while the Thunder are 3-0 to the under in such games. Denver has held its last two opponents to fewer than 100 points and OKC took a 94-93 loss to Sacramento last time out to make the under 6-1 in their last seven games overall. 

8* play on UNDER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, but I think the total is set too high for this matchup with the Detroit Pistons. 

Detroit is one of the slower teams in the league and it has played solid defense lately, holding four of its last five opponents to 103 points or fewer. Dallas saw a five-game winning streak come to an end with a 110-106 loss to Sacramento on Sunday. The Mavs have also played decent defense lately and their fresh legs should make it difficult for Detroit to get good looks.

The under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest and 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 4-1 in Pistons last 5 games as an underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

THURSDAY NIGHT JETS @ RAVENS *TOP PLAY*

This should be a game the Baltimore Ravens will be looking to win with as little effort as possible. Star QB Lamar Jackson is dinged up, and even though he's expected to play Jackson could be heading to the bench once/if the Ravens build up a comfortable lead. After that, they can lean on their defense to get the job done. 

The NY Jets do not have the players to challenge elite defenses and should find it difficult to move the ball against this vaunted Baltimore defense that has allowed an average of 12 ppg through its last five contests. 

Under is 9-4 in Jets last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 5-1 in Ravens last 6 games as a home favorite.

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The struggling NY Knicks have lost 10 straight after taking a 115-87 beating at Portland last night. Under is 10-1 in the Knicks last 11 games playing on no rest and 7-2 in Knicks last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. That applies to the 5-20 Golden State Warriors who have averaged just 93.6 ppg over their last five games. 

The Knicks have the worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA and the Warriors are only marginally better. 

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NCAAB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR DECEMBER

The Missouri State Bears are coming off an 86-62 win over Mississippi Valley State and three of their last four games have gone over the total. They struggled to defend the perimeter last time out though as their opponent was allowed to go 8-of-17 (47%) from behind the arc. Here they'll face an Arkansas State side that shot 43% from deep last time out and is shooting a respectable 37.1 percent from 3-point land on the season. Additionally, the Red Wolves have scored 70+ points in five of their last seven games. 

10* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED NBA TOTAL

The Orlando Magic rank near the bottom of the league for offensive efficiency while only three teams have a better defensive efficiency rating than the LA Lakers who are 8-2 to the under in their last 10 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. The under is 8-1 in Magic last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and they've averaged below 100 points through their last two games. 

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics are among the most solid teams in the NBA on the defensive end of the court and both sides have a pace factor in the bottom 10 of the league. 

The under is 9-3 in the Celtics last 12 overall and 16-5 in their last 21 games as an underdog. Under is 4-0 in the Pacers last 4 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points, a situation that fits here as they're coming off a 110-99 loss to the LA Clippers. 

The Celtics have limited three straight opponents to fewer than 95 points. 

8* play on UNDER. 

KNICKS @ BLAZERS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The New York Knicks have the worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA and only two teams have a lower pace factor. They've not scored more than 104 points through a nine-game skid and the under is 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Here they'll face the 9-15 Portland Trail Blazers who are having a tough season and shot just 36 percent from the field and 9-of-33 (27%) from 3-point range in a 108-96 loss to OKC last time out.  

10* play on UNDER. 

GIANTS @ EAGLES MONDAY NIGHT *TOP PLAY*

The New York Giants have dropped eight straight since their 2-2 start to the season. They've put up a total of just 27 points through their last two games and scored just 13 against Green Bay's porous defense last time out. 

As for the Philadelphia Eagles, they're losers of three straight and had scored just 19 points through the first two prior to a particularly embarrassing 37-31 loss at Miami last time out. I expect the Eagles' defense to bounce back in a big way, and it should not have much to fear from a Giants' team that will have a rusty Eli Manning under center for the first time since Week 2 as rookie Daniel Jones is out with an ankle sprain. 

Moving the ball on the ground won't be easy against the Eagles' elite run defense, and I don't see the Giants putting many points on the board. 

10* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT RAPTORS @ BULLS TOTAL

Both the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls will be playing on no rest. I think both teams will suffer from heavy legs and struggle to stop the other side on the break leading to a relatively high-scoring affair. 

Additionally, the Raptors are coming off three consecutive defeats and the over is 7-2-1 in Raptors last 10 games following a straight up loss while it's 14-4 in Bulls last 18 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings at United Center and I particularly like the Raptors to run up the score as they'll be desperate to put an end to their losing streak. 

8* play on OVER.

SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Chicago Bulls have one of the worst offensive efficiency ratings in the league while only a handful of teams are more efficient than the Miami Heat on defense. Additionally, neither of these two teams are playing at a particularly high tempo and the Bulls are 5-1 to the under in their last 6 while the under is 14-5 in the Heat's last 19 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Additionally, note that the under is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.

10* play on UNDER.